How can I get some energy?

[KarenB]

I have been so tired lately and I am trying to find a way to get more energy. I get doctor checkups yearly and many times he just tells me it is my lifestyle but I am sick of it. I am a teacher and on my feet all day (7:30-3:15). I take a lot of work home and continue to work for at least another 1-2 hours, if not more. I have been having trouble sleeping well, just waking up worrying about stuff. I get home and by the time I get work caught up, the housework done, and thinking about dinner (DH works long hours) I am shot and basically asleep on the couch by 9.

What bothers me the most is that I want to come home and go out and run/walk building up to a 10K. I ran a 5k and loved it, but can't get the energy to keep going anymore. I am in my 50s and not overweight by any means, but everything is shifting and I feel my body is disgusting.

I try to think of the positives that I have like a good job, a nice home, kids in college, etc.

Any ideas? I am just so tired of being tired.....

 

[Goofyluver]

Just a , honey.

I'm there. I have no suggestions. I have 4 more weeks till Summer.

 

[KarenB]

Just a , honey.

I'm there. I have no suggestions. I have 4 more weeks till Summer.

Thanks, believe me I am VERY grateful for what I have in many areas. Just can't find the energy to enjoy it all.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Right there with you!

I need some more energy too. I keep thinking I'll up the exercise and that will do the trick. But with the boom in school activities as the year winds up, it's hard to fit anything else in!

Maybe a second cup of coffee is in the cards for me.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I've asked my doctor about the same thing many times. Unlike you, I am very overweight. At first he told me it was because of my weight, but I was persistent about the problem visit after visit.

The first thing he recommended was a sleep study. They diagnosed me with obstructive sleep apnea and put me on a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine when I sleep. I thought that was going to be the magic cure, and I'd wake up bright and awake, rather than wanting to just climb right back into bed. Nope. It did eliminate the headaches I often woke up with, but didn't increase my energy levels.

The second thing they checked was for blocked arteries. Over the course of a year, I had a series of tests including an ultrasound of my heart, a stress test, and some type of imaging that involved radioactive contrast dye. (I don't remember what that one was called; it wasn't an MRI or a CAT scan because it wasn't in a tunnel.) There was nothing in those results that explained my fatigue.

I added some regular exercise to my diet, which did help a little. Sounds like you've already done that.

The thing that's really helped me has been to take up a low carb/high protein diet. I'm not diabetic, but it has really helped me none the less. It doesn't hurt that I've been taking off a lot of weight, but I really think it's the restriction of sugars and starches that's made the real difference.

Another thing I've done, at my sleep study doctor's recommendation, is eliminate caffeine. She told me it might be a good boost in the morning, but it stays with you and effects you at night as well. Every once in a while I'll not think about it and get a glass of tea or a diet coke at a restaurant, then kick myself as I lie there restless and unable to fall asleep later that night.

Your mileage may vary. Good luck.

 

[Christine]

I got the same runaround before and I was told I was fine but quite a few doctors.

What I noticed on my own was that my blood count numbers were gradually dropping even though they were still in the normal range. At one point they were always around 14 (I think I'm referring to hemablobin). It had gradually drifted down to to 11.5. A doctor finally ran my ferritin (which is the iron stores your body has) and my level was a 3. It should be 70. I was VERY iron deficient but my body was good at keeping me from becoming full-blown anemic.

I had no energy, fast heart rate at times, and mental fog.

After treating with iron, I felt a TON better and more like my old self.

 

[katie26]

OP, do you think you could possibly wake up earlier and work out in the morning? I know that when I manage to drag myself out of bed and get some exercise before I start my workday, I'm more energetic and attentive during the entire day. You might have to move your bedtime up a bit to make up for the earlier wake up time, but I also feel like I sleep better when I'm exercising on a regular basis anyway.

(Now if only I could take my own advice instead of hitting the snooze button all the time!)

 

[hercamore]

Hi Karen

When was the last time you had your thyroid, iron, and vitamin D levels checked?

Being low on any of these and you are going to be tired no matter how much you exercise.

 

[englishteacha]

Vitamin B is supposed to help with energy.

 

[momof1princess]

OP, along with the blood levels mentioned by others, it's possible you may be vitamin b-12 deficient, which can impact your energy level. it can't hurt to ask to have it checked.